Albion player tackles cancer research

Keith Davis, a 1979 Albion
graduate and executive director of the Owensboro Cancer
Research Program, and Matt Lozier in the lab. Albion athletics photo

A cornerback on the Albion football team, Matt Lozier is used to
tackling opponents. This summer, the rising senior found himself
tackling cancer – one of the most menacing opponents some
people ever face – as an intern at the Owensboro Cancer
Research Program.

The OCRP, under the direction of Keith Davis, a 1979 Albion
alumnus, is devoted to unlocking the potential of plant-based
pharmaceuticals and antiviral proteins. Lozier was modifying
lunasin, a protein isolated from soybeans that has been suggested
to possess anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, with
materials that would allow lunasin to bind specifically to
integrins on cancer cells. The hope is to find a treatment that
would directly target cancer cells while allowing good cells to
live.

“The other day Dr. Davis mentioned that every morning when
we walk into work, we walk by the patients lined up for their
chemotherapy treatment and how it’s pretty incredible that we
are looking into the faces of the people that we would ultimately
like to help in the future,” Lozier said. “I
hadn’t really noticed that room was the waiting room for the
cancer patients until he said that. Now these last two weeks when I
walk into work, I make sure to acknowledge those people because
they are going through a pretty tough battle of their
own.”

Lozier spoke of this being one of the most rewarding experiences
of his summer internship.

The grandson of an oncologist, Lozier became interested in
cancer research after shadowing oncologists from his hometown and
being able to sit in on doctor-patient consultations two years ago.
The next winter he worked hard to submit 33 applications to
universities offering summer internships dealing with
research. He received rejections from 32 out of the 33
applications he submitted, but his hard work and persistence paid
off as he was awarded a research position with the University of
Michigan, the last of the 33 summer 2010 internship applications he
completed.

Landing the opportunity at the OCRP was less stressful
as biology professor Dale Kennedy encouraged Lozier to
apply. After completing his application essay during spring break,
Lozier focused on studying for the Medical College Admissions Test,
which he took on May 26. The experiences of waiting to be accepted
into an internship and waiting to receive an MCAT score have given
Lozier some perspective.

“The MCAT was definitely the most challenging test I have
ever taken in my life,” Lozier said. “My experiences
say something about perseverance. They have made me realize that if
I stick things out it will be well worth it in the end.”

Lozier’s football career has also provided an example of
perseverance. A member of Lumen Christi High School teams that
advanced to the Michigan High School Athletic Association finals in
2005 and 2007, his playing time in college has been limited by
talented teammates – All-American Chris Greenwood plays
cornerback for the Britons – and the demands of his academic
work. Lozier has had to arrive at practice late – and
sometimes miss it altogether – at least once a week every
season.

“I don’t do as much research [in the fall], but the
running from lab to practice is definitely true and I thank head
coach Craig Rundle for looking out for my future by allowing an
absence or two every week,” Lozier said. “Coming from
playing high school football and having my chances to make an
impact on each game to being surrounded by all these talented
players at Albion and having All-Americans on your team has really been a humbling
experience for me, and at times even frustrating. And same
with research, you might think you’re smart until you get in
a room with a bunch of doctors and students that have already gone
through graduate school. All around they both taught me that
there is always someone out there with more talent or that knows
way more than I do, but I have come to see these people as mentors
or people that I could learn from.

“I’ve found that even though it is hard to make time
for everything, I do better in school when I am playing a sport and
busy,” Lozier added. “Football allows me to let out
some of my energy daily and stay focused when I am studying at
night for my classes.”

With a résumé that includes two off-campus
research experiences in addition to his work as a teaching
assistant for biology professor Doug White, Lozier will balance his
academic course load and football while finishing the application
process for medical school this fall. Lozier says that while his
dad is encouraging him to follow his grandfather’s trail as
an oncologist, he has yet to choose a specialty.

“I think that this summer will act as a stepping stone of
furthering me along on my ultimate goal of becoming a
physician,” Lozier said. “The experience helped me to
realize that in my own life I would desire a situation that
involved more direct interactions with people as might be found in
a clinical situation working as a physician. In my prior working
situations — such as lifeguarding, working as a laboratory
teaching assistant, and mentoring children at the local elementary
school — I enjoyed the direct relationships that I formed
with others.

“Being associated with cancer research has really helped
put things into perspective for me,” Lozier added.
“This summer has helped me realize that whatever I am going
through is not nearly as bad as what those chemotherapy patients
are battling, and it has really made me thankful for everything the
Lord has blessed me with, including good health.”